Abstract
The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the vertebrate kidney. To ensure kidney functions, the nephrons possess a highly segmental organization where each segment is specialized for the secretion and reabsorption of particular solutes. During embryogenesis, nephron progenitors undergo a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) and acquire different segment-specific cell fates along the proximo-distal axis of the nephron. Even if the morphological changes occurring during nephrogenesis are characterized, the regulatory networks driving nephron segmentation are still poorly understood. Interestingly, several studies have shown that the pronephric nephrons in Xenopus and zebrafish are segmented in a similar fashion as the mouse metanephric nephrons. Here we review functional and molecular aspects of nephron segmentation with a particular interest on the signaling molecules and transcription factors recently implicated in kidney development in these three different vertebrate model organisms. A complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying nephrogenesis in different model organisms will provide novel insights on the etiology of several human renal diseases.
Highlights
All vertebrates possess an excretory organ, the kidney that regulates fluid balance, osmolarity and pH and performs blood filtration in order to excrete metabolism end products and drugs
It has been shown that hnf1b acts downstream retinoic acid (RA) to promote tubule differentiation [48]. These results suggest that RA acts as an organizing center, in a graded fashion, promoting proximal segment formation and limiting distal segment development
Hnf1b inactivation in the early nephron progenitors leads to similar defects in nephron segmentation [69]. These results show that Hnf1b is required for the acquisition of a proximo-intermediate segment fate in the vertebrates, uncovering a previously unappreciated function of a novel SSB subcompartment in global nephron segmentation and further differentiation
Summary
All vertebrates possess an excretory organ, the kidney that regulates fluid balance, osmolarity and pH and performs blood filtration in order to excrete metabolism end products and drugs. Most of these diverse tasks are accomplished by the nephrons, the functional units of the kidney. The kidney emerges from intermediate mesenchyme (IM) and progresses either via two or three stages: pronephros, mesonephros, and metanephros Each of these kidney forms differs in their overall organization and complexity, they all have the nephron as their basic structural and functional unit. This article reviews recent advances on nephron patterning in Xenopus, zebrafish, and mouse
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